13 They offer sacrifices on the (A)tops of the mountains
And [a](B)burn incense on the hills,
(C)Under oak, poplar, and terebinth,
Because their shade is pleasant.
Therefore your daughters play the prostitute,
And your [b]brides commit adultery.
14 I will not punish your daughters when they play the prostitute,
Or your [c]brides when they commit adultery,
Because the men themselves slip away with the prostitutes
And offer sacrifices with (D)temple prostitutes;
So the people without understanding are ruined.

15 Though you, Israel, play the prostitute,
Judah must not become guilty;
Also you are not to go to (E)Gilgal,
Nor go up to Beth-aven
(F)And take the oath:
“As the Lord lives!”

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Footnotes

  1. Hosea 4:13 Or offer sacrifices
  2. Hosea 4:13 Or daughters-in-law
  3. Hosea 4:14 Or daughters-in-law

13 They sacrifice on the mountaintops
    and burn offerings on the hills,
under oak,(A) poplar and terebinth,
    where the shade is pleasant.(B)
Therefore your daughters turn to prostitution(C)
    and your daughters-in-law to adultery.(D)

14 “I will not punish your daughters
    when they turn to prostitution,
nor your daughters-in-law
    when they commit adultery,
because the men themselves consort with harlots(E)
    and sacrifice with shrine prostitutes(F)
    a people without understanding(G) will come to ruin!(H)

15 “Though you, Israel, commit adultery,
    do not let Judah become guilty.

“Do not go to Gilgal;(I)
    do not go up to Beth Aven.[a](J)
    And do not swear, ‘As surely as the Lord lives!’(K)

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Footnotes

  1. Hosea 4:15 Beth Aven means house of wickedness (a derogatory name for Bethel, which means house of God).